Changeable sign.



B. FRIED. I GHANGEABLE SIGN.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28, 1911.

Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

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B. FRIED.

GHANGBABLE SIGN.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28, 1911.

Patented N0v.25, 1913 6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co wAsmNu'roN. D. c.

B. FRIED.

GHANGEABLE SIGN.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28, 1911.

Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

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COLUMBIA PLANOURAPH cm, WASHINGTON. u. C.

B. FRIED.

OHANGEABLB SIGN. APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 28, 1911.

1,079,851, r Patented 1101211913.

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COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO-IWASMINOTON. n. c.

B. FRIED.

GHANGEABLE SIGN.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28, 1911.

1,079,85 1 I Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

. COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPM CO.,WASHINGTON, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHANGEABLE SIGN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

Application filed June 28, 1911. Serial No. 635,866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BERNHARD FRIED, a subject of the King of Hungary, residing at Budapest, Austria-Hungary, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Changeable Signs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to novel improvements in mechanically-changeable signs that is, signs in which the letters or characters employed are composed of a series or number of movable elements or units capable of being actuated or controlled by suitable means as desired.

The object I have in view is primarily to produce a changeable sign or single design or monogram in which the arrangement of the movable members thereof is such that they can produce any desired written sign (letters, numerals) irrespective as to whether they are round or straight, in an uninterrupted line. The flaps can be actuated either by hand or automatically by means of groups of solenoids, one solenoid of each group moving its flap up and the other moving it down.

The invention furthermore refers to an automatic controlling device for the electromagnets, hereinafter more fully de scribed.

I shall now describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawing showing one form of construction together with a diagram of the corresponding electrical connections.

Figures 1 and 1* show the arrangement of field composed of flaps. Fig. 2 shows in side view and front elevation the method of actuating such a flap by solenoids. Figs. 3 and a show the automatic controlling device in front elevation and plan view respectively. Fig. 5 shows a side view of the same. Figs. 6-7 show details, and Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the el ctrical connections.

The element a (Fig. 1) consists of flaps cl numbered consecutively 130 and pivoting on joints 6 (Fig. 2.) The various flaps 1-30 are actuated by the group b and ,0 of solenoids, two solenoids being provided for each flap. In the form of construction shown the flap 14 (Fig. 2) has been raised by the solenoid b (as shown in dotted lines) and in the next moment has to be returned by the solenoid 0 into the position shown in full lines. The actuation of the flap is effected by means of the cog wheel f which responds to the number of solenoids.

meshes with the rack g the ends of which form supports or bearings h for the rod 2'. The latter is bent round at the top and the bottom and carries the iron core j of both the solenoids Z), 0. The ends of the solenoid windings pass to metal strips 73 (Fig. 6)

, which are arranged in the base plate 31 of the switch box 32, consisting of insulating material, for example ebonite. These metal strips carry spiral springs also indicated by consecutive numbers 1 30. The number of contact springs consequently cor- The contact springs 1, 2, 3, etc., contact at the side with the contact rods 68 arranged beneath the contact pins 33 (Fig. 3), the number of which contact rods 68 corresponds to the signs (letters, numerals and the like) to be produced. Shoulders 71 of insulating imaterial are fastened to the bottom of the contact rods 68. The pins 33 are situated beneath the teeth 36 of the switch drum The number of the switch drum q and switch drums (1 being mounted on a common shaft 34 and all the switch boxes 32 belonging to this group of drums are situated on a common table 35. The contact rods 68 are spring-controlled so that in their normal position they cannot close circuits, but when operated upon by the contact pins 33 they come into contact with the corresponding contact springs 1, 2, etc., and form contact, so that on pressing down a contact pin 33, that is to say, of contact rod 68 belonging to the same, this rod will come into contact with all the contact springs 1, 2, etc., situated in the corresponding row and by exciting the solenoids appertaining thereto, the corresponding group of flaps will be actuated. The shoulders 71 (of which there are 40) rest on both sides under the action of springs 40 in corresponding recesses 37 (Fig. 6) of the bars 3839 resting on the front and back walls of the switch box 32. For the purpose of forming contact between the drum q and the switch box 32, the drum is intermittently rotated, whereas the switchbox is intermittently raised. Both these movements are obtained from a common a tuating driving shaft 41, which is driven by a slowly rotating motor, (not shown in the drawing), or is actuated by hand by a crank 42. Thecontact pins 33 project through openings 70 of a guide bar 6 which passes through the box longitudinally and divides it so to speak into two congruent halves. The movement of the driving shaft 41 is transmitted by cog wheels 42, 43, to shaft 44, and by a Geneva movement, comprising parts 45 and 46, to shaft 49 and from shaft 49, by gears 50 and 51, to shaft 52. The

' table is driven from the shaft 58 by means table.

of the chain 60 and sprocket wheels 59 and 61 which effect the uniform guiding of the The transmission of the movement of .the cam to the table 35, is effected by lifting rods 67 arranged on the table 35. The cams 64 are provided with two noses 65, 66, which lift the table twice in succession. The first time one of the groups of solenoids islconnected up, thesaid group of solenoids corresponding to a certain Word or sentence; on the second lifting of the table the second group of solenoids will be brought into action, that is to say the previously actuated group of solenoids will be returned into their original position. The return line of the various winding wires is obtained for example, by contact springs 'w, w (Fig. 3) of the drum 2, which as, can

' be seen from Fig. 8, on the rotation of the drum 2 alternately come into contact with the conducting portion 0) of the same, thus assuring the groupsof solenoids coming alternately into action on the rotationof the drum 2. The Geneva movement hereinbefore described is provided for the purpose of intermittently rotating the drum.

The drum 9 is provided on its circumfer-' ence with guide rods 7 on which teeth 3 are movably arranged. The guide rods 1" are provided with recesses, the number of which corresponds to the number of signs to be produced, so that the teeth 8 can be adjusted in position on the various guide rods r. The number of guide rods ror teeth 8 corresponds to the various words or the like to be produced the one after the other and can amount to about one hundred to one hundred and twenty. On one complete revolution of the drum g, which for some advertisements must last from 10-12 minutes, the various words or the like appear in the desired order, after which they re-- The electrical connections explaining the method of working of the device is shown in Fig. 8. The positive pole of the source of current leads to the switch box 32, and from here the current passes to the groups of solenoids b and 0 arranged in rows and connected with the brushing w w of the commutator device or drum 2. The shaft of this drum is connected with the negative pole. In the position shown the group 0 of solenoids is cut out, whereas current passes through the solenoids b, inasmuch as the brush w contacts with the conducting part '0 of the drum.

It will be seen that the revolving drum with its operating pins 36, adjustable parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum, constitutes a selector switch box operating device which is movable at a predetermined elevation or, in other words, about a fixed axis. The switch box is reciprocatcd vertically to be operated by this selector.

While I have herein shown and described one form of my invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited there to except for such limitations as the claims may import.

I claim:

1. An electrical device for operating changeable signs comprising in combination, solenoid devices, a selector device rotatable about a fixed axis, a switch box mechanism movable into and out of engagement with a plurality of circuit closing elements, a

circuit connecting said elements with said solenoid devices, a source of current in said circuit, a commutator device in said circuit for cutting said solenoid devices into and out of circuit, a revolving selector device having a pin adjustable parallel to its axis of rotation, and mechanism for operating -,sa1d selector device and commutator device and moving said switch box to bring its circult closing elements into and out of en- ,gagement with said selector pin, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BERNHARD FRIED. Witnesses:

MAX ADLER, JULIUS Srrnnnn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' WashingtomD. G. 

